A police constable has been arrested and three persons detained in connection with the murder of Right to Information (RTI) activist Amit Jethva here last month.

A police constable has been arrested and three persons detained in connection with the murder of Right to Information (RTI) activist Amit Jethva here last month.

Jethva, who had filed a public interest litigation against illegal mining in the Gir forest area, was shot outside the Gujarat High Court on July 20.

“After a long investigation, we have tracked down the main accused, Bahadursinh Wadher, a police constable in Junagadh district, for getting Jethva killed through contract killers,” said Mohan Jha, joint commissioner of police (crime branch).

The police have also detained three persons for questioning. More arrests are likely in the next few days, the police said.

“We have also tracked the contract killers - Shailesh Pandya and Pancha Shiva. They have a criminal history and were promised Rs 11 lakh for the job,” Jha said. The contract killers are absconding and the police have launched a manhunt.

The police, however, ruled out the role of Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentarian from Junagadh, Dinu Solanki, in the murder.

A day after Jethva was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants near the Gujarat High Court, his father, Bhikabhai Jethva, had alleged that Solanki was behind the murder.

Solanki and his family members are linked with the mining business in the area, and had allegedly threatened Jethva on several occasions.